How Medicare Helps Seniors

Medicare is a social insurance program, which is offered by the United
States government, for those aged 65 and over, who cannot afford their
own insurance policy. It also covers those who are under the age of 65
and are permanently physically disabled, or have a congenital physical
disability, which requires them to have around the clock treatment, and
to have a care taker with them, in order to get through day to day
activities. The medicare coverage can also be given to those who meet
certain income guidelines, and do not have medical insurance through an
employer, or by other means, due to their inability to afford it, and a
health condition they may have.

The Medicare program in the United States is similar to any health care
insurance policy for a single individual, that would be provided through
an employer, or by those who purchase their own insurance, and pay out
of pocket since they are capable of affording their own insurance
policy. Prior to medicare being offered, only about 51 percent of people
above the age of 65 were able to afford insurance, meaning that many
seniors who needed expensive medications, or expensive nursing care, or
expensive in home care, were not getting it, due to the fact that they
were not able to afford it, and the fact that there was no government
assistance administered to these individuals. Additionally, only about
30 percent of these individuals, who were not able to afford their own
insurance, were living above the poverty line. This meant that these
seniors were uninsured, and were going without a lot more than just
insurance, due to the tough economic conditions, and because they were
not able to afford better living conditions, due to the expensive
treatment they had to pay for care or medication, when they had to
purchase it.

The original Medicare plan, covers about 80 percent of the approved Medicare medical procedure. This means that about 80 percent of nursing
care costs, co-pays, medications, and all approved medicare treatments,
are going to be paid for by the government, requiring the seniors (or
others who are approved for medicare), to pay only 20 percent of the
entire cost out of pocket, making an option for care something which is
actually much more affordable for all these individuals. There are also
ways that these individuals, especially those living below the poverty
level, can obtain a medicare supplement plan, which will pay the other
20 percent, or at least a large portion of that 20 percent, meaning that
many individuals will not be required to pay anything for their
treatment; or, if they do have to pay out of pocket expenses, they are
going to be extremely minimal costs, out of the total amount which is
due for the treatment, or the medication which they are obtaining.

The supplement insurance is generally offered via a private insurance
company, which will require a monthly insurance fee be paid. But, this
is going to be a much lower cost than the 20 percent, if an expensive
treatment option, or expensive medication is required for these
individuals.